What Goes on a Dog tag? See our example templates for each branch of the U.S. military with links to the official modern format specifications in PDF.

Dog Tags make sentimental mementos for honoring the war service of the veteran in your family for passing down to grandchildren as a family heirloom. We can recreate era specific Dog Tags from historical wars such as WWII, Korea and Vietnam.

To assist with making your own set of Dog Tags accurate to the era we have created templates that automatically format the required information to the correct layout. Alternatively, you can email us us a photo of your original tags and we can re-create them for you.

The US military currently issues Dog Tags to members of each Branch of Service except the Navy. As of January 9, 2019, Army and Air Force Dog Tags have the same information format: Name, DoD ID, Blood type, Religious preference. Marine tags differ by including USMC, Gas Mask size, and use the first initial instead of name.

A Dog Tag is the informal name for the identification tags worn by military personnel, because of their resemblance to actual 'dog' tags. The tag is primarily used for the identification of dead and wounded along with providing essential basic medical information for the treatment of the latter such as blood type and history of inoculations. In the event the member has a medical condition that requires special attention, an additional red tag with the pertinent information is issued and worn with the Dog Tags. Wearing of the tag is required at all times by soldiers in the field. In the U.S., two identical tags are issued. One is worn on a long chain around the neck; the second on a much smaller chain attached to the first chain. In the event the wearer is killed the second tag is collected and the first remains with the body.

In the military every soldier is issued two ID tags as soon as possible after entry on active duty, initial active duty for training, or assignment to a Reserve Component unit. Dog Tags are used for identification, casualty reporting, and graves-registration purposes. In the unfortunate event that they are killed in combat, one tag would stay with the body (sometimes attached to the toe using the short chain) and the other tag would go with a scout and eventually to the next of kin. In keeping with this military tradition, we only sell our tags in sets of two, however each tag from mydogtag.com can still be individually customized.

Yes, as per Army Regulation 670–1 (AR670-1) p3-11 soldiers will wear identification tags at all times while on duty in uniform unless otherwise directed by the commander. Wearing identification tags is governed by AR 600–8–14 and DA Pam 600–8–14.

If you are looking to make a replacement set of dogtags for yourself or in memory of a family member who is a veteran, you can find all of the information required on their DD Form 214, here is a good article on how to request it. This Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, generally referred to as a "DD 214", is a document of the United States Department of Defense, issued upon a military service member's retirement, separation, or discharge from active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States. This form contains the following dogtag related information:

Sep 02 1949 : New Army Regulations AR 615-30 and replacement of "Army Serial Number" designation by "Army Service Number"

1950 : Introduction of the "Rh" factor on Dog Tags, with indication of either "POS" or "NEG" after Blood Type.

Early 1950 : Introduction of new prefixes for Enlisted Men & Women: RO Regular Army Soldier with Reserve Officer’s Commission, WL Regular Army WAC with Reserve Officer's Commission

1952 : Introduction of the letter "X" to designate other religious affiliations not covered under Protestant/Catholic/Jewish faith groups, and the letter "Y" for those who did not have a religious preference. The letter "J" replaced "H" for Jewish US servicemen.

1960 : Notched Dog Tags are no longer used, as new Embossing Machines don't require them for positioning.

Children as young as six were forced to prepare for nuclear Armageddon during the Cold War ... and even had ready-made DOG TAGS so their parents could identify their bodies in the event of a nuclear fallout.

School districts nationwide outfitted their students with inexpensive Dog Tags as a civil defense measure

The Dog Tags were most commonly stamped with the child's name, address, date of birth, phone number and religion for final rites

The effort was promoted by the Federal Civil Defense Administration in posters, pamphlets, films and radio segments

Educators also contemplated tattooing children, but decided against it because the markings wouldn’t be legible once their skin peeled off after a nuclear blast

Personalize your Military Dog Tags and see a preview of what they will look like before ordering. Not sure how to design your tags? Use one of these Military Dog Tags layouts or suggestions to get started:

Army Medical Warning Tag. Official size - 2.25" x 1.25" red anodized aluminum. This tag is normally worn alongside a regular ID dogtag and provides the same function as a medical bracelet for alerting first responders and doctors. It is also known as a USMC 'Boot Tag' and is laced into the left boot laces between the 2nd and 3rd eyelet and tucked into the leather flap.

Our British Military style dogtags are laser engraved on 38mm diameter 304 stainless steel tag with a matte non-reflective finish. The dark laser engraving creates a modern looking, dark and deep impression that will not wear down or rub off. Silencers can be optionally installed.

Our Canadian Dog Tags are unofficial replicas made of stainless steel with a matte (non-shiny) finish. The text is laser engraved using the same modern 'Fiber Laser' method now used by the Canadian military which creates a dark etching which you can feel with your fingers and will not wear down or rub off.

In World War II members of the Navy wore dogtags of a different shape than the Army and Air Force. They were oval shaped, had either one (P1917) or two (P1940) holes, and were engraved or etched rather than debossed or stamped.

You may also be interested in our other historical WWII era Dog Tag reproductions for the U.S. Army from
1940-41, 1941-43, 1943-44, and 1944-46.

More About Military Dog Tags

Lost Dogtags

Are you a veteran who lost his Dog Tags years ago? We can make you a new set that look almost identical to your originals depending on when you served. We also offer a Veteran discount!

Memorial Keepsakes

Recreations of personal historical Dog Tags from specific war eras make sentimental souvenir mementos to honor the memory of a loved one. Commemorate your grandfather, father, or other family members who served in the military with a recreation set of replica dogtags to match their originals lost-in-time.

Military Family Dogtags

About Dog Tags from MyDogtag.com

At MyDogtag.com, we provide premium quality mil-spec Dog Tags that will last a lifetime. They are completely customizable so you can easily create Dog Tags as replicas of military issue originals or for any other use or occasion; A Dog Tag starts as a blank canvas, whatever you want to put on it we can make it, and you get to see a preview of what your finished Dog Tag set will look like before we actually make it! We can even laser engrave your custom logo or image!

All orders are shipped within 1 business day and are usually delivered within 1 week (in North America). If you need any assistance creating or ordering your Military Dog Tags please contact us directly, we are here to help!